Soulframe's Open Preludes Explained: What Digital Extremes' New Update Really Means

Ever booted up Soulframe and wondered what on earth a "Prelude" is supposed to be? You're not alone. Digital Extremes has a habit of inventing its own vocabulary, and the studio has now stepped in to demystify one of its most confusing terms.

So here's the deal: "Preludes" is basically Soulframe's term for its pre-alpha. A Prelude with a number after it marks the most recent major build of the game. The MMO does receive smaller interstitial updates in between those bigger numbered releases, so the numbering isn't the whole story.

The studio has also elaborated on what "Open Preludes" actually means, and it's teasing an "ambitious" Preludes 17 on the horizon. If you've been scratching your head over the jargon while trying to follow Soulframe's development, this clarification should help you read the roadmap a little more clearly.

For anyone new to the game, it's worth keeping in mind that Soulframe is still in its pre-alpha phase. That means the builds you're seeing are early, evolving, and very much a work in progress, which is exactly why Digital Extremes leans on its own naming system to track where things stand.

The takeaway for players is simple: when you see a numbered Prelude, you're looking at the latest major milestone build, while the smaller updates fill the gaps between them. And with an ambitious Preludes 17 in the works, there's clearly more to come.

Digital Extremes hasn't laid out every detail of what Preludes 17 will contain just yet, but the studio's willingness to explain its terminology is a helpful sign that it wants players following along as development rolls forward.

What do you think of Soulframe's made-up vocabulary? Does "Preludes" work for you, or would you rather the studio just call it a pre-alpha? Let us know in the comments.